The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Oud Berry arrived in 2023 from Dixit & Zak, created by Nitish Dixit and Zakir Laskar. Its composition is built around oud and berry notes, placing dark, resinous woods beside ripe fruit in a bold, expressive arrangement. Nothing about it reads as a quiet background scent. Damask rose and bergamot begin with polish, while blackcurrant, plum, raspberry, jasmine, and tuberose add a ripe floral-fruity pulse. Beneath them sits a dense base of East Indian oud, black musk, castoreum, civet, hyraceum, labdanum, patchouli, saffron, sandalwood, and vanilla. Bergamot lends brightness at the opening, and the fruits bring a juicy depth as rose and jasmine soften the sharper edges. The base develops into a warm, textured blend of wood, resin, spice, and restrained animalic notes.
The unusual part is the collision of textures. Berry notes can feel juicy, while oud brings smoke, wood, and resin. Here they don't politely sit beside each other. Rose and geranium give the fruit a polished floral frame, jasmine and tuberose add creamy depth, and saffron brings a warm, peppery flicker. Blackcurrant, plum, and raspberry keep the center vivid, with their rounded fruitiness contrasting against the drier aromatic quality of oud and sandalwood. Patchouli adds an earthy darkness, while labdanum contributes warmth and a soft resinous depth.
The evolution
The first impression is bright and polished: bergamot cuts through damask rose, giving the opening a clean, citrus-edged sparkle. Soon the fruit arrives, with blackcurrant, plum, and raspberry bringing a juicy, wine-like richness. Jasmine and tuberose soften that brightness into a fuller floral center, while geranium keeps a faint green, leafy edge in the air. As the fragrance settles, saffron adds warmth and spice. East Indian oud, sandalwood, patchouli, and labdanum create a dark woody foundation, joined by black musk, castoreum, civet, and hyraceum for a restrained animalic glow. Vanilla keeps the final trail soft rather than dry. Over time, the composition shifts from fresh fruit and polished florals toward smoke, resin, and dark wood. The oud gives the later stages a dry, aromatic depth, while patchouli and labdanum make the base feel earthy and tactile.
Cultural impact
Oud Berry can be discovered through its complex note structure rather than a simple scent category. Oud brings smoke, wood, and resin, while berries introduce juicy brightness, and rose, jasmine, and tuberose connect the two with a floral frame. Geranium adds a leafy quality, saffron introduces warmth, and patchouli, labdanum, sandalwood, and the animalic notes deepen the composition as it develops. It appeals to those drawn to layered, character-driven fragrances with a clear sense of contrast.
The House
Dixit & ZakDixit & Zak is an Indian niche fragrance house that blends traditional Indian scent material with modern compositional techniques. Founded by chemical engineer Nitish Dixit and fourth‑generation oud distiller Zakir Laskar, the brand launched its first offering, Rising Mysore, in 2019. Since then it has built a catalogue of complex, character‑driven perfumes such as Emperor’s Court (2021) and Hindi Tabac (2022). The house works from Pune and sources raw materials from India and the Middle East, aiming to create scents that feel both rooted and contemporary.
The Creator
Nitish Dixit & Zakir LaskarNitish favors natural absolutes and rare isolates, often pairing ambergris‑like notes with crisp marine accords. He builds his structures in three layers: a clear opening, a heart that evolves over the day, and a lingering base that rewards patience.
